Room to Breathe: 7 Foods that Are Common Choking Hazards for Kids

The back-to-school memos are starting to arrive in the inbox.Along with all the forms come reminders about school rules. Most of these revolve around food, respecting allergies, and ensuring kids have a healthy day. Choking hazards for kids and allergy issues are serious, and must be respected as such. According to a new study from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, 112,000 kids went to the emergency room between 2001 and 2009 because of choking incidents. That's about 34 kids a day. Choking is listed as one of the leading causes of injury in children, and a leading cause of death in kids under 3. The average age for a child treated for choking is 4.5, and usually a boy. With a 3 and a half year old headed into a full week of Junior Kindergarten this fall, these stats caused me to sit up and pay attention. Here are the top 7choking hazardsto keep in mind when packing your kid's lunchbox. -By Buzz Bishop

Photo by: iStockphoto

Hot Dogs - 2.6% of food choking ER visits
Hot dogs are the same shape as a child's airway and a usual suspect to be blamed for choking. Even if you cut it in a coin, it's still the same shape as your child's throat. We halve, and then quarter lengthwise our veggie dogs when we pack them in our son's lunch.
Related: 10 things dads wish moms would learn how to do

Photo by: iStockphoto

Hot Dogs - 2.6% of food choking ER visits
Hot dogs are the same shape as a child's airway and a usual suspect to be blamed for choking. Even if you cut it in a coin, it's still the same shape as your child's throat. We halve, and then quarter lengthwise our veggie dogs when we pack them in our son's lunch.
Related: 10 things dads wish moms would learn how to do